Colossians 2 -- Relationship, Not Rules

There were so many ideas floating around Colossae about how to be super-spiritual, and Paul knew that all of them would only serve to shift the focus of the new Christians away from Christ.  It was more of that same Gospel-plus mentality.

 

“Keep your roots deep in Him and have your lives built on Him,” Paul said.  “All of God lives in Christ fully … It was through Christ’s death that you were made free from the power of your sinful self … When you were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self, God made you alive with Christ, AND He FORGAVE ALL your sins.”

 

Paul then asks why, after being set free from sin, would any Christian act as if they still belonged to the world?  That included following manmade rules about what not to eat and not to touch.  He said the only thing these rules really do is make people pretend not to be proud and make them punish their bodies, without giving them any control over their evil desires.  Our only strength and hop in those areas come from Christ alone.

 

Father, rules don’t cut it.  Only a relationship with You through Your Son can lead me to live a life separate from the world and apart to You.  I’m only human, and that’s not an excuse to sin.  Instead, it’s an admission of weakness and an acknowledgment of my need of Your power in my life to overcome sin every day.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford